The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman 1323

 Chapter 1323

 

“Hoo...”

Lowering Heavenly Drive, Raon wiped away the sweat pouring down his forehead like rain.

'This is exhausting.'

The conversation he shared with Glenn through their swords was more taxing on both body and mind than any real battle. They were not using aura, nor were their lives in danger, yet merely clashing Heart Swords was more taxing than any fight he had ever experienced.

'But it's enjoyable. And... I can feel myself growing.’

Every time he crossed Heart Swords with Glenn, he could feel his own sword becoming sturdier and sharper. Just as a master craftsman forged a famous sword through countless hammer strikes, the sword he had created from his own heart seemed to grow stronger the more it collided with another.

Glenn had clearly known that from the beginning and had been helping his Heart Sword grow.

“Thank you.”

Sensing Glenn's intentions, Raon bowed deeply.

“Thanks to you, my Heart Sword has taken another step forward.”

While dealing with the archangel Sariel, he had learned to wield his Heart Sword with greater precision and flexibility, but its overall power had not changed significantly.

Today, however, by repeatedly clashing Heart Swords with Glenn, he had been able to raise its power by a noticeable margin. It was no small effort on Glenn’s part, and he genuinely wanted to express his gratitude.

“I enjoyed it as well. And...”

Glenn casually waved his hand as if it were nothing worth mentioning.

“You've accomplished remarkable things as acting head of house. It is only right that you receive a reward worthy of them.”

A faint smile touched his lips, as though helping Raon’s Heart Sword grow was simply his way of rewarding those accomplishments.

“To be honest, you've grown far faster than I expected. At this point, there's not much left that I can do for you.”

Clicking his tongue lightly, Glenn remarked that ordinary rewards were no longer enough.

“I’m not there yet.”

Raon scratched the back of his head, saying that he still had much to learn.

“Nonsense.”

Glenn chuckled as he looked at Raon.

“You’ve had free access to Zirghart’s treasury all this time, yet you haven’t visited it even once!”

He crooked a finger, sounding slightly disappointed as he told Raon to stop by every now and then, if only to let him see his face.

The years had visibly caught up to him. Rather than the head of house of Zieghart, he looked more like a kind old grandfather waiting for his grandson in the countryside.

“Ahaha...”

Raon awkwardly lowered his gaze.

'Now that I think about it, I completely forgot about the treasury.'

As he accumulated achievement after achievement, Glenn had granted him several privileges allowing him access to Zieghart’s treasury. Yet there was nothing he particularly needed, so he had never once thought about going there.

Ah! The King of Essence has a brilliant idea!

Wrath raised a finger as his eyes lit up.

Trade those entry privileges for banquet passes! Banquets are held at the lord’s manor from time to time, so that's where you should go!

He smacked his lips, suggesting that they go there and eat their fill.

“......”

Raon stared at him with cold eyes.

W-What? What's with that look? Food is what truly remains in the end!

Wrath gulped dryly, questioning why Raon was looking at him like that.

“I understand your reasoning for not needing the treasures in the treasury.”

A faint smile appeared on Glenn's lips.

“Still, it would be good for you to visit it more often. It isn't merely a place where things are stored.”

He drew a circle with his finger, saying there was something far more important than that.

“And there might even be a true treasure hidden there.”

Glenn's smile deepened, as though many hidden things still remained within Zieghart's treasury. In that moment, he once again looked like the head of house of Zieghart who had accomplished countless feats.

“I understand. I’ll make sure to visit.”

Raon nodded with a faint smile, promising that he would stop by more often.

“I'll remember those words.”

Glenn nodded with satisfaction.

"If you don't come, I'll go look for you at the annex building!"

He let out a light snort, declaring that he would go to the annex building if Raon failed to show up. Hearing him say something like that, Raon felt that Glenn's inner changes were even greater than the changes in his appearance.

“Of course.”

Smiling much like Glenn, Raon bowed.

“You've worked hard until now.”

The smile vanished completely from Glenn's face as he raised his chin with dignified authority.

“Raon Zieghart. Acting head of house.”

Setting aside his grandfatherly demeanor and once more speaking as the head of house, he formally acknowledged Raon’s achievements.

“Hmm...”

Raon lightly bit his lip as he looked at Glenn, whose dignity now felt even more profound than before.

“Thank you. I, too, gained invaluable experience while serving as the head of the house.”

He bowed his head as he accepted Glenn's overwhelming energy wave, which crashed over him like a tidal wave.

“Is that so?”

Apparently pleased with the answer, Glenn's eyes curved into crescents.

“What will you do now?”

He licked his lips slightly, curious about what Raon intended to do next.

“I intend to keep a promise.”

Raon opened his hand and placed it over his chest.

“Because now, I’ve finally gained the confidence to do it.”

“I see. A promise.”

Glenn smiled faintly, as though he understood exactly what promise Raon was referring to.

“You should be on your way, then.”

He gave a light wave of his hand, signaling that it was time for Raon to leave.

“......”

After exchanging one final glance with Glenn, Raon left the audience chamber.

'Now I'm certain.'

He curled his trembling hand into a fist and twisted his lips into a smile. Even now, his hand was still shaking from Glenn's immense energy wave.

'The head of house will never lose.'

After crossing swords with Glenn today, he was certain of it. Glenn’s might had already surpassed the limits of this world. No matter what kind of training the Heavenly Demon underwent before their duel, Raon could no longer imagine Glenn losing.

Kuuuuung!

Unable to contain the excitement stirred by the fighting spirit he had felt from Glenn, Raon forcefully pushed off the ground and headed toward the annex building.

Though the King of Essence doesn’t particularly like it...

Wrath narrowed his eyes.

The King of Essence agrees with you. Even that Heavenly Demon bastard won't find it easy to defeat that geezer.

He nodded, sharing the same conclusion.

However... no, never mind.

Wrath started to say something about Glenn, then closed his mouth as though worried he might jinx it.

‘How cautious of you.'

Raon chuckled and patted Wrath on the head.

'I finally feel at ease.'

Even though my position as acting head of house had only been temporary, the responsibility had weighed heavily on me. Now I am free of it, and grandfather had emerged from his secluded training in even better condition than I had hoped. All of my worries had finally been put to rest.

'Being head of house isn't bad, but passing it on might not be, either.'

It was an honor to bear the weight of a great house like Zieghart upon my shoulders, yet it was also a considerable burden. If Karoon truly maintained the conviction I had seen before and continued growing stronger, passing the position of head of house on to him might not be such a bad choice.

The King of Essence thinks the same!

Wrath smacked his lips, pleased that they agreed on that point as well.

You are not a talent meant to rot in this human realm!

'But I am human...?'

Doesn't matter! Come to devildom! The King of Essence will raise you into a true king!

Drool streamed from his mouth as he declared that Raon possessed the qualities of a genuine monarch.

Huh? Why is the King of Essence drooling...?

Wrath blinked, only now noticing it himself.

'Probably because of that.'

Raon snickered and pointed toward the annex building, where smoke was rising from the chimney. It seemed the smell of food wafting from the building had triggered Wrath's drooling reflex automatically.

Ah! That scent is definitely pineapple pizza and butter-grilled shrimp, two of the King of Essence’s favorites! And there's lamb as well...

Wrath identified the entire menu from the scent alone.

Quickly! Hurry!

Completely abandoning his dignity as a Demon King, Wrath pointed at the annex building while cascading drool fell like a waterfall.

'The King of devildom, huh...'

Raon chuckled as he looked at the warmly lit annex building and the food-crazed Wrath.

'That might actually be interesting.'

Once everything is over, following Wrath down to devildom for a short visit might not be a bad idea.

Forget about devildom and being a king! Run over there right this instant!

‘…….’

*   *  *

Raon sat in the garden of the annex building, writing something down. He seemed deeply focused, keeping his eyes glued solely to the booklet in his hand despite Sia and Yua wandering around nearby.

“Raon!”

Unable to contain her curiosity any longer, Sia ran over and sat across from him.

“What have you been doing all day?”

She narrowed her eyes, demanding to know what he was up to.

“There’s a promise I need to keep.”

Raon smiled at Sia before turning his attention back to the booklet. The pages were smooth and pristine, as if he were creating an entirely new book himself.

“A promise? What kind of promise?”

Yua smacked her lips, curious about what promise Raon was trying to fulfill.

“I don't really remember when I made it, but it was quite a long time ago. And now it's finally time to keep it.”

Scratching the back of his head, Raon admitted that he was quite late in fulfilling it.

“There are times when even you end up late on a promise, palace master?”

Yua blinked in surprise, saying that this was the first time she had ever heard such a thing since getting to know him.

“That’s right. Raon never breaks a promise!”

Neither Yua nor Sia had spoken, yet a clear female voice suddenly rang out from empty air.

Ggeuheuhuheup!

Wrath let out a bizarre shriek and whipped around.

Damn it! She's here again!

Recognizing the owner of the voice immediately, he grabbed his head in despair.

“You kept your promise to save me too!”

It was Evelyn. As if she had been watching Raon from the very beginning, she swiftly opened a dimensional rift, appeared beside him, and wrapped her arms around his shoulders.

“W-Well, I'm only human. There are times when I fail to keep a promise.”

Raon forcibly pushed Evelyn away and lowered his brows slightly.

“And this promise was a bit unusual. I've only just gained the confidence to fulfill it.”

He nodded, noting that unlike typical promises, this one required absolute certainty.

“Hmmm.”

Sia let out a quiet hum as she watched Raon continue writing in the booklet.

“I have no idea what kind of book that is. You keep drawing the same person over and over, and there’s a bunch of strange writing in it too....”

She scratched her cheek, unable to make sense of it.

“Isn’t this a martial arts manual?”

Yua stole a glance at the booklet Raon was creating and widened her eyes.

“A martial arts manual?”

Sia blinked, having learned all her martial arts directly from people up until now, she seemed to be seeing a manual for the first time.

“You’re right. This person is holding a sword!”

She clapped her hands, finally understanding why he was drawing the same person over and over.

“Haaah....”

Evelyn let out an excited breath as she gazed at Raon.

“Our Raon is even good at drawing....”

It wasn't the drawing she was looking at, but the muscles in Raon’s back that flexed whenever he moved his hand. She lightly bit her red lips.

Gyaaaaaah!

Wrath shrieked in horror at the sound of Evelyn's breath.

“Hmmm....”

Suppressing the goosebumps rising along his arms because of Evelyn, Raon continued filling in the contents of the booklet.

“Who are you making that martial arts manual for? Don't tell me it's for me?”

A faint smile spread across Sia’s face, anticipation shining in her eyes.

“If you want one, sister, I'll make a different manual for you. The owner of this one was decided a long time ago.”

Raon shook his head firmly, apologetically explaining that the owner of this martial arts manual had already been chosen long ago.

“Who is it?”

Evelyn fiddled with her nails as though she might kill the person if it turned out to be a woman.

“There he is.”

Keeping his eyes fixed on the booklet, Raon tilted his chin forward. In the direction he indicated, a man with a build as massive as a bull was approaching with heavy, thundering footsteps.

“Hey, nephew!”

It was Balder Zieghart. The master of the True Martial Palace and a master of the flexible sword, despite a physique that seemed completely unsuited to such a principle, waved energetically as he called out to Raon.

“I've seen all you've accomplished!”

Letting out a hearty laugh, he remarked that it had been a long time since they had spoken like this in private.

“So, is my sword technique finished yet?”

As always, Balder spread his fingers and greeted him with the same question he always asked, whether the sword technique had finally been completed.

“It’s finished.”

Instead of telling him to wait as he usually did, Raon closed the booklet he had been writing in and informed him that the martial art was complete.

“Good. I can wait as long as it ta—huh?”

Balder’s eyes widened as he cut himself off mid-sentence.

“W-What? It’s finished?”

“Yes. This sword technique...”

With confident eyes, Raon lifted the booklet whose ink had yet to dry.

“Will serve as the guide that leads you to Transcendence.”

 

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